Daily Current Affairs October 10 2023 | Latest News | Download PDF

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Dear Readers, get to know the daily current affairs today covering all the National & International Events provided here in this article. Current Affairs is an important topic in various competitive exams like IBPS/SBI/PO/Clerk and other competitive exams. To score better in this section, be updated with the daily happenings. Check the Daily Current Affairs October 2023 updates here. Revision is very important in remembering current affairs. Candidates after learning the Daily current affairs October 10 2023, can test their knowledge by attempting Current Affairs Quiz provided with answers. Daily current affairs October 10 2023 covers current affairs from International & National news, Important Days, State News, Banking & Economy, Business News, Appointments & Resignation, Awards & Honour, Books & Authors, Sports News, etc.,

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CURRENT AFFAIRS : BANKING & FINANCE

YES Bank becomes the 1st lender to offer ‘ONDC Network Gift Card’

• YES Bank has become the first bank in India to issue the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Network Gift Card.
• The ONDC Network Gift Card makes use of the RuPay network, which is a domestic payment system in India.
• This card is issued in partnership with the ONDC, which signifies collaboration in the digital commerce space.

Key Highlights :

• Customers have the flexibility to load up to Rs 10,000 on the ONDC Network Gift Card.
• The ONDC Network Gift Card aims to democratise digital commerce by allowing customers to use the gift card to purchase products from any brand and seller across various segments, such as food, fashion, handicrafts, electronics, home essentials, and health and wellbeing.
• Unlike traditional gift cards that are brand-specific, this card offers versatility, allowing customers to make purchases from a wide range of sellers and product categories.
• The ONDC Network Gift Card is available for both corporate and individual customers.
• This enables them to use the card for thoughtful gestures to customers, employees, or loved ones.

Recent News :

• In Aug 2023, Private lender YES Bank introduced its state-of-the-art mobile banking application named ‘iris’ with an aim to redefine digital banking for its customers.
• In March 2023, YES Bank collaborated with National E-Governance Services Limited (NeSL) to issue its first electronic Bank Guarantee (e-BG).

About YES Bank :

• Established : 2004
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra
• MD &CEO : Prashant Kumar
• Tagline : Experience our Expertise

Government Keeps General Provident Fund Savings Interest Rate Unchanged at 7.1% for 15th Consecutive Quarter

• The government has maintained the interest rate on General Provident Fund (GPF) savings at 7.1% for the October-December quarter.
• This marks the 15th consecutive quarter in which the government has not altered the payout rates for retirement savings of government employees.
• The Finance Ministry officially notified the interest rate, which is also applicable to other provident funds for government employees, including those in the Railways and the armed forces.
• The last change in the GPF interest rate occurred in the first quarter of 2020–21 when it was reduced from 7.9% to the current rate of 7.1%

Key Highlights :

• While the GPF rate has remained constant, rates on select small savings schemes have been increased for five consecutive quarters.
• The returns on the popular Public Provident Fund (PPF) have remained unchanged at 7.1% since the first quarter of 2020-21.

What is a general provident fund?

• The General Provident Fund (GPF) is a long-term investment option that allows government employees to accumulate savings over their employment tenure.
• GPF is a mandatory scheme for government employees, requiring them to contribute a certain percentage of their salary towards the fund.

Recent News :

• In Sep 2023, the government maintained the interest rates on 11 out of 12 small savings schemes for the current quarter, keeping them at the same level as the previous quarter.
• Notably, the interest rate on five-year recurring deposits has increased to 6.7% for this quarter, up from 6.5% in the July-September period.

CURRENT AFFAIRS : INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Bangladesh Receives Russian Uranium Shipment for Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant

• Bangladesh received the first batch of uranium from Russia for its Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).
• Bangladesh became the 33rd nuclear power-producing country in the world after the commissioning of the Rooppur nuclear plant.
• The Director General of Rosatom, Aleksey Likhachev, handed over the nuclear fuel during a function presided over by Bangladesh’s Science and Technology Minister, Architect Yeafesh Osman.
• A second shipment of uranium, which is the nuclear fuel for the first unit of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, arrived in Dhaka on a special plane at Dhaka Shahjalal International Airport.
• The Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, with a capacity of 2400 MW, is being built by Rosatom, a Russian contractor.
• It consists of two units, each capable of producing 1200 MW of electricity.
• The nuclear fuel is expected to produce power for one year before reloading is required.
• Russia has committed to taking back the spent fuel from the Rooppur Plant to their country.

About Bangladesh :

• President :Mohammed Shahabuddin
• Prime Minister :Sheikh Hasina
• Capital :Dhaka
• Currency :Taka

Indonesian President Inaugurates Southeast Asia’s First High-Speed Railway, Financed by China

• Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway connecting Jakarta and Bandung, a project under China’s Belt and Road initiative.
• The project, with a budget of $7.3 billion, largely funded by China, aims to reduce travel time between Jakarta and Bandung from 3 hours to just 40 minutes.
• The high-speed railway is expected to reduce carbon emissions and promote efficient mass transportation.

Key Highlights :

• President Widodo named the railway “Whoosh,” which stands for ‘Waktu Hemat, Operasi Optimal, Sistem Handal,’ emphasizing its modernization and environmental benefits.
• The rail deal was signed in October 2015, with China Development Bank providing 75% of the financing through a loan, and the remaining 25% came from the consortium’s own funds.
• The project is part of a larger plan to build a 750-kilometre (466-mile) high-speed train line across 4 provinces on Indonesia’s main island of Java, ultimately connecting to Surabaya, the 2nd-largest city in the country.
• Despite disputes, the project aims to transfer technology to Indonesia, potentially supporting future domestic high-speed train production.

About Indonesia :

• President :Joko Widodo
• Capital :Jakarta
• Currency :Indonesian rupiah

CURRENT AFFAIRS : STATE NEWS

Madhya Pradesh Government Announces 35% Reservation for Women in Government Jobs

• The Madhya Pradesh (MP) government has announced a 35% reservation for women in all government job recruitments, excluding the Forest Department.
• The government has amended the Madhya Pradesh Civil Services (Special Provisions for Appointment of Women) Rules, 1997, to implement this 35% reservation for women in MP.
• The reservation for women is to be applied horizontally and compartment-wise, meaning that 35% of the posts in the state’s services (excluding the Forest Department) will be reserved for women at the stage of direct recruitment.
• Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan declared that 35% of vacancies in the police and other government job positions will be filled by women.
• Additionally, the government has also reserved 50% of teaching positions for women.
• Previous Initiatives: Madhya Pradesh had previously implemented 50% reservation for women in the elections of Panchayats and urban bodies.
• The state offers concessional fees for property registration if the property is registered in the name of a woman.
• Out of a total of 5 crore 60 lakh voters in MP, 2 crores 72 lakhs are women voters.

What is Horizontal reservation?

• Horizontal reservation is a concept aimed at providing equal opportunities to various categories of beneficiaries, such as women, veterans, the transgender community, and individuals with disabilities, across different segments or compartments of government job positions.
• It ensures that these categories have a fair and equitable chance to secure employment, cutting through the vertical categories.
• This approach aligns with the constitutional principle of equal opportunity and is exemplified by Article 15(3) of the Constitution.

What is Compartment-wise?

• “Compartment-wise” refers to a strategy that divides or categorizes different aspects or components of the program into separate compartments or segments.
• Each compartment may have its own set of rules, objectives, or criteria.
• In the case of Madhya Pradesh’s new policy, “compartment-wise” reservation means that the 35% quota for women will be applied in a manner that considers different departments or sectors separately, ensuring that women have access to a diverse range of government job opportunities.

Other Key Initiatives :

• He accelerated the transfer of financial assistance to beneficiaries under the “Ladli Bahna Yojana,” a flagship welfare program for women.
• Under this scheme, eligible beneficiaries receive ₹1,250 per month from the state government.
• This decision also closely follows the passage of the ‘Women’s Reservation Bill’ in Parliament, which received the assent of President Droupadi Murmu.
• The ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhniyam,’ mandating 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies, was unanimously passed, marking it as the first bill enacted in the new Parliament building.

About MP :

• Governor: Mangubhai C. Patel
• Chief Minister: Shivraj Singh Chouhan
• Capital: Bhopal
• National Park: Satpura National Park, Kanha National Park, Bandhavgarh National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary: Nauradehi Wildlife Sanctuary, Bori Wildlife Sanctuary

Arunachal Pradesh’s Yak Churpi’ Receives GI Tag

• In a significant milestone for the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the unique and culturally significant yak milk product, ‘Yak Churpi,’ has been granted the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

About Yak Churpi :

• Yak Churpi is a dairy product made from the milk of the indigenous Arunachali yak breed.
• It is reared by tribal yak pastoralists known as Brokpas who migrate along with their yaks to higher reaches (at an altitude of 10,000 ft and higher) during summers and descent to mid-altitude mountainous regions during winters.
• These remarkable yaks are primarily found in the West Kameng and Tawang districts of the state.
• Churpi is a naturally fermented dairy product and rich in protein content.
• It is an essential dietary staple for tribal communities inhabiting the cold and mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh.
• It is often used as a vegetable substitute and is also incorporated into vegetable and meat curries and is commonly consumed with rice.
• Yaks are reared in high-altitude areas in the Himalayan region but the Arunachali yaks are a unique breed in respect to their body shape, size, strain and weight.
• They are the only registered yak breed in India.

About Arunachal Pradesh :

• Governor :Kaiwalya Trivikram Parnaik
• Chief Minister :Pema Khandu
• Capital :Itanagar

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan Lays Foundation Stone for India’s Largest Pumped Storage Project

• Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone for the largest pumped storage project in India, located in the Khemla block, Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh.
• The project is being developed by the Greenko Group, which is recognized as India’s largest energy storage company.
• Initially, the project had a capacity of 1440 megawatts (MW) with storage for 7.5 hours.
• However, it is now being expanded to 1920 MW with storage for 6 hours.
• The expansion is aimed at providing storage of nearly 11 Gigawatt hours (GWh) daily, emphasizing the significance of energy storage.
• The overall investment for the project is estimated to be Rs 11,500 crores over the next 3 years, highlighting its substantial financial commitment.
• The project is scheduled to be completed within 30 months, which is faster than the allocated period of 36 months, indicating efficiency in its execution.
• The project involves the construction of a new off-stream reservoir, known as the upper reservoir, while utilising the existing Gandhi Sagar Reservoir as the lower reservoir.

Glacial Lake Burst in Sikkim Leads to Seven Fatalities

• A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim led to flash floods in the Teesta River basin.
• At least 7 people have died and scores more were injured or missing after flash floods inundated Sikkim.
• The Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) reported that over 2,011 people have been rescued from the affected areas.
• 22 Army soldiers are missing following the flash floods, and there are concerns about more than 3,000 tourists being stranded in various parts of the state.
• Lhonak Lake is situated in the northwest of the state at 17000 feet.
• The cloud burst brought incessant rains.
• Approximately half of the area of South Lhonak Lake in Sikkim was drained out due to the cloudburst, leading to water entering low-lying areas.
• The increased water levels in the Teesta River caused flooding in 4 districts, including Mangan, Gangtok, Pakyong, and
• The flood situation in Sikkim worsened after water was released from the Chungthang dam.

What is cloudburst?

• A cloudburst is defined as sudden and very heavy rainfall occurring in a short period.
• According to the IMD, it involves precipitation of 100mm/h over a geographical region of approximately 20-30 square kilometres.

About Sikkim :

• Governor :Lakshman Acharya
• Chief Minister :Prem Singh Tamang
• Capital :Gangtok
• National Park :Khangchendzonga National Park, Namdapha National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary :Shingba Rhododendron Sanctuary, Maenam Wildlife Sanctuary

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Approves the Guaranteed Pension System Bill

• The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the Guaranteed Pension Scheme bill to bring all state government employees under the hybrid model of Contributory Pension System (CPS) and Old Pension System (OPS).
• Guaranteed Pension Scheme (GPS) was introduced due to long-standing demand from the employees for a review of Central Civil Services (CCS) Pension.
• The introduction of GPS, which reverses the pension system, could potentially impact the state fiscal deficit, potentially reaching 8%.

Key Highlights :

• Guaranteed Fixed Pension: Under GPS, employees are entitled to receive a guaranteed fixed pension equal to 50% of their last drawn salary.
• Dearness Relief (DR): The scheme includes dearness relief (DR) adjustments to be announced twice a year to increase the quantum of pension.
• Spouse Pension: GPS ensures a monthly pension for the spouse at a rate of 60% of the guaranteed pension amount after the death of the pensioner.
• Minimum Monthly Pension: Retired government employees will receive a minimum monthly pension of Rs 10,000 under GPS.
• Combination of Schemes: GPS combines elements of both the new Contributory Pension System (CPS) and the old Pension System (OPS).
• Exclusions: Employees dismissed or removed from service and those facing compulsory retirement due to disciplinary actions are not eligible for the scheme.
• Old Pension Scheme (OPS): OPS provides employees with a post-retirement income for life, equivalent to 50% of their last drawn salary, with the entire pension amount paid by the government.
• Integration with NPS : The GPS will ensure pension under the NPS, which was made available for all citizens between 18-60 years of age in 2009.
• NPS Investment Returns: Currently, NPS investments offer returns ranging from 9-12% per annum along with tax benefits.
• Employee Contributions: Government employees under GPS are required to make monthly contributions based on their basic salary and dearness allowance.

About AP :

• Governor :S. Abdul Nazeer
• Chief Minister :Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy
• National Park :Papikonda National Park, Sri Venkateswara National Park
• Wildlife Sanctuary :Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, Kambalakonda Wildlife Sanctuary

CURRENT AFFAIRS : APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS

Muneesh Kapur appointed as Executive Director of RBI.

• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Muneesh Kapur as Executive Director (ED).
• As executive director, he will look after the Department of Economic and Policy Research.

About Muneesh Kapur :

• Over a span of nearly three decades in the Reserve Bank, Shri Kapur has worked in the areas of macroeconomic policy and research and monetary policy in the Department of Economic and Policy Research and Monetary Policy Department in RBI.
• He also served as Adviser to the Executive Director, International Monetary Fund during 2012-15.
• Prior to being promoted as ED, Shri Kapur was Adviser-in-Charge, Monetary Policy Department and Secretary to the Monetary Policy Committee.

About RBI :

• Established : 1 April 1935
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• Governor :Shaktikanta Das
• Deputy governors : Mahesh Kumar Jain,M. Rajeshwar Rao, Michael Patra and T. Rabi Shankar

Advertising Standards Council of India appoints Marico CEO Saugata Gupta as chairman of board of governors

• Saugata Gupta, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marico, has been appointed as the chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
• Partha Sinha, president, response, BCCL publisher of the Times of India and the Economic Times was elected vice chairman.
• Sudhanshu Vats, deputy managing director, Pidilite Industries, was appointed honorary treasurer.

About ASCI :

• Established : 1985
• Headquarters : Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
• ASCI is the leading self-regulatory organisation in India and deals with communication guidelines in both offline and online advertising.
• It launched the ‘ASCI Academy’ to boost self-regulation during the creative process.
• It enforces a code of self-regulation that mandates legal, decent, honest, truthful advertising while ensuring fairness in competition.
• JioMart Appoints Mahendra Singh Dhoni as Brand Ambassador
• JioMarthas appointed India’s most iconic cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador.
• The aim of JioMart is to establish itself as an integral partner to Indian families in their celebrations.
• AlsoJioMart has rebranded its festival campaign as “Jio Utsav, Celebrations of India.”
• Rebranding a campaign can be a strategic move to attract and engage customers during festive seasons.

About Jiomart :

• CEO : Sandeep Varaganti
• JioMart is an Indian e-commerce company.
• It started as a joint venture between Reliance Retail and Jio Platforms.
• It offers products across segments including Reliance-owned brands like Urban Ladder, Reliance Trends, Reliance Jewels, Hamleys among others.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: AWARDS AND HONOURS

Central railway station awarded platinum shield by IGBC for energy conservation measures

• The MGR Chennai Central railway station has been awarded the platinum certificate by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for developing the railway station into a net zero energy building.
• Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh received the IGBC platinum shield from Ajith Kumar Chordia, Chairman of IGBC, at the grand closing function of SwachhataPakkhwadaon the occasion of Gandhi Jayanthi celebrations held at the Central Station
• IGBC awarded the highest platinum certificate for the Central station based on the building being made net zero through the installation of renewable energy sources for conserving electricity as also replacing the electrical fixtures with energy efficient fixtures.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: MOUS AND AGREEMENT

India and Saudi Arabia sign an MoU in Electrical Interconnections, Green / Clean Hydrogen and Supply Chains

• India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riyadh, in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green / Clean Hydrogen and Supply Chains.
• The MoU was signed between the visiting Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri R.K. Singh and the Minister of Energy, Government of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA Climate Week in Riyadh

Objectives:

• This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection; exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies; co-development of projects; co-production of green/clean hydrogen and renewable energy; and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green/clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector.
• It was also decided between the two energy ministers that B2B Business Summits and regular B2B interactions between the two countries will be conducted to establish complete supply and value chains in the above-mentioned areas of energy sector cooperation.
• Earlier, an Indian delegation led by the Union Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri R.K. Singh participated in the High-Level Segment of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week 2023, which was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during October 8 – 12, 2023.
• MENA Climate Week 2023 will discuss climate solutions ahead of COP28 and is being hosted by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

About Saudi Arabia

• Capital: Riyadh
• King: Salman of Saudi Arabia
• Currency: Saudi Riyal

PATA and India to jointly promote Travel for LiFE in Asia-Pacific region

• Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)has committed to work with India to expand the Travel for LiFE initiative across the Asia Pacific region.
• India hosted the 46th edition of Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Travel Mart 2023 from Oct 4 to Oct 6 at the International Exhibition-cum-Convention Centre (IECC), Pragati Maidan, in New Delhi.
• PATA Mart saw the participation of around 1000 delegates, is one of the major international trade exhibitions catering to the tourism sector and it serves as a platform for trade interactions between global buyers and sellers.
• Besides facilitating trade interactions between Buyer Sellers meet, the PTM 2023 also included thought provoking knowledge sessions at PATA Forum and youth engagement at PATA Youth Symposium.
• Travel for LiFE initiative was showcased by the Ministry across all the events and it generated huge interest from international travel trade community
• The Travel Mart was followed by the PATA Board meeting held where the Ministry of Tourism shared the Travel for LiFE initiative with the Board members.
• The PATA Board appreciated the initiative and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India will work with PATA to expand the initiative across the Asia Pacific region.

About Mission LiFE

• Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) was formally launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister on 19th October 2022, in the presence of the UN Secretary General António Guterres, at the Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Gujarat. It is a global mass movement led by India urging individuals and communities to act for protection of the environment against the effects of climate change.

Maharashtra signs pact with UK museum for loan of Shivaji’s Tiger Claws

• Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary waghnakh (tiger claw) to the state.
• The MoU is in place for the historic waghnakh of Shivaji Maharaj to be part of our 350th anniversary celebrations.
• According to the V&A, the MoU sets out the details of a three-year loan agreement for the unique pair of Tiger Claws or waghnakh in the V&A collection.
• They are described as an example of a weapon that was popular in the 17th century.
• This particular set has long drawn interest from scholars due to the leather case which was made for them in the 19th century by their owner at the time, which claims that they are the same Tiger Claws used by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj during the Maratha leader’s historic battle and triumph over Azfal Khan in 1659.

About Maharashtra

• Capital: Mumbai
• Chief minister: Eknath Shinde
• Governor: Ramesh Bais

CRPF in collaboration with Ministry of Women and Child Development is organizing a cross-country bike expedition with “Yashaswini” to celebrate women power

• The Central Reserve Police Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Womenand Child Development, is organizing a cross-country bike expedition with “Yashaswini” a group of CRPF women bikers to celebrate women’s power or Nari Shakti of the country.
• A total of 150 women CRPF officers, divided into three teams, will embark on a cross-country rally. Riding 75 Royal Enfield (350cc) motorbikes, these teams will start their journeys from the Northern (Srinagar), Eastern (Shillong), and Southern (Kanyakumari) regions of India.
• Finally, they will all converge at the Statue of Unity in Ekta Nagar(Kevadia), Gujarat for the grand finale scheduled to take place on the 31st of October, 2023.
• The rally will cover approximately 10,000 km, passing through 15 states and 2 Union Territories.
• In addition to promoting the Force’s message of “Desh Ke Hum Hain Rakshak”, the women bikers have also incorporated the social message of “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao”, into their campaign.

About CRPF

• Founded: 27 July 1939
• Headquarters: New Delhi
• Founder: Parliament of India

Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya sign MoU for advancing PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

• India’s Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) under the commerce and industry ministry and Vadodara-based GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya(GSV) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost the country’s infrastructure and logistics sectors.
• Under the MoU, GSV will be the nodal agency across the country to design, develop and deliver courses and curriculum related to PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy (NLP) at various centres in different states.
• More than 16 central ministries and NITI Aayog came together for the signing of the MoU.
• The NLP was launched and GSV was established last year.
• The collaboration shall mark the great culmination of three visions, i.e., smarter planning and implementation; structured specialised development; and capacity building.
• Five courses on the railways have been developed, with a focus on tracks technology, rail-wheel interaction, thermodynamics and signalling systems.

About DPIIT

• The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India.
• Founded: 1995

CURRENT AFFAIRS: RANKING AND INDEX

Respirer Living Sciences reports Aizawl has India’s cleanest air, while Delhi remains the most polluted city.

• According to a report by Respirer Living Sciences, which provides real-time information on various aspects including air quality and climate trends, Delhi was the most polluted city in India for air pollution.
• Patna was ranked as the second-most polluted city, followed by Muzaffarpur, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, Meerut, Nalbari, Asansol, and Gwalior, which were ranked in the top 10.
• On the other hand, Aizawl in Mizoram had the cleanest air in India, followed by Chikkamagaluru in Karnataka, Mandikhera in Haryana, and Chamarajanagar, Madikeri, Vijayapura, Raichur, Shivamogga, Gadag, and Mysuru in Karnataka.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: SPORTS NEWS

The 19th edition of the Asian Games has successfully concluded in Hangzhou, China.

• The closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games concluded at the Hangzhou Olympics Stadium in China.
• Hockey player R. Sreejesh was the flag bearer for India.
• The baton for the next Asian Games has been passed on to Nagoya, Japan for 2026.
• The glittering ceremony saw more than 2000 performers put on a dazzling display, celebrating the love and unity between all the participating countries.
• Raja Randhir Singh, the interim president of the Olympic Council of Asia or OCA, handed over the first Asian Games flag, the current flag and the torch to the Japanese side, marking the official end of the 19th edition of the Games.
• Nagoya which is set to organise the 20th edition is the capital of Japan’s Aichi Prefecture, located on the Pacific coast in central Honshu.
• Governor of Aichi Prefecture, Hideaki Omura, waved the flag of the OCA during the handover ceremony.
• More than 12,000 athletes from 45 nations competed in 40 sports at the Games, which were delayed for a year due to COVID-19.
• The Indian contingent won 107 medals- 28 gold, 38 silver, and 41 bronze at Hangzhou.
• In the previous edition of the Games at Jakarta in 2018, India was only able to secure 70 medals.
• This is the first time that the country has crossed the benchmark of 101 medals in any of the three major Games including the Olympics, the Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games.
• China, which had 886 athletes, the second-most in Asian Games history, won a record 201 gold, 11 silver and 71 bronze medals, leading the medal standings for the 11th straight time. Xie Zhenye, who won the men’s 100-metre and the men’s 4×100-metre relay gold medals at the Asian Games, carried the flag on behalf of China at the closing ceremony.

CURRENT AFFAIRS: IMPORTANT DAYS

National Post Day: October 10

• The date of National Post Day 2023 is October 10.
• In 1854, Lord Dalhousie founded the India Post for the first time.
• Now, the Ministry of Communications is in charge of the Indian Postal System.
• It is one of the world’s most commonly used wide postal systems.
• In India, there are 9 postal zones and 23 postal circles, along with the army’s post office.
• India’s post offices use a PIN Code System that has six digits. PIN, or Postal Index Number, was first introduced on August 15, 1972, by Shriram Bhikaji Velankar.
• In this every digit has its own significance, the first digit of the PIN code denotes the region, the second digit denotes the sub-region, the third digit denotes the district, and the last three digits denote the post office under which a particular address comes.
• Now, National Post Day 2023 in India is observed on the 10th of October.

World Mental Health Day 2023: October 10

• World Mental Health Day 2023 falls on the 10th of October.
• The theme of World Mental Health Day 2023 is “Mental health is a universal human right.”
• A non-governmental organization called the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) was established in 1948.
• On October 10, 1992, Richard Hunter, who was the deputy secretary general of the WFMH at the time, declared the first World Mental Health Day.
• Every year since 1994, a unique theme has been chosen for the international celebration.

Daily CA on Oct 10 :

• YES Bank has become the first bank in India to issue the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) Network Gift Card.
• The government has maintained the interest rate on General Provident Fund (GPF) savings at 7.1% for the October-December quarter.
• Bangladesh received the first batch of uranium from Russia for its Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP).
• Indonesian President Joko Widodo inaugurated Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway connecting Jakarta and Bandung, a project under China’s Belt and Road initiative.
• The Madhya Pradesh (MP) government has announced a 35% reservation for women in all government job recruitments, excluding the Forest Department.
• In a significant milestone for the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, the unique and culturally significant yak milk product, ‘Yak Churpi,’ has been granted the coveted Geographical Indication (GI) tag.
• Madhya Pradesh (MP) Chief Minister (CM) Shivraj Singh Chouhan laid the foundation stone for the largest pumped storage project in India, located in the Khemla block, Neemuch district, Madhya Pradesh.
• A cloudburst over Lhonak Lake in north Sikkim led to flash floods in the Teesta River basin.
• The Andhra Pradesh Assembly passed the Guaranteed Pension Scheme bill to bring all state government employees under the hybrid model of Contributory Pension System (CPS) and Old Pension System (OPS).
• The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has appointed Muneesh Kapur as Executive Director (ED).
• Saugata Gupta, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marico, has been appointed as the chairman of the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI).
• JioMarthas appointed India’s most iconic cricketer, Mahendra Singh Dhoni as its brand ambassador.
• The MGR Chennai Central railway station has been awarded the platinum certificate by the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC) for developing the railway station into a net zero energy building.
• India and Saudi Arabia have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Riyadh, in the fields of Electrical Interconnections, Green / Clean Hydrogen and Supply Chains.
• Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA),has committed to work with India to expand the Travel for LiFE initiative across the Asia Pacific region.
• Maharashtra’s Cultural Affairs Minister recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Victoria and Albert Museum in London to bring back Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legendary waghnakh (tiger claw) to the state.
• The Central Reserve Police Force, in collaboration with the Ministry of Womenand Child Development, is organizing a cross-country bike expedition with “Yashaswini” a group of CRPF women bikers to celebrate women’s power or Nari Shakti of the country.
• India’s Department for promotion of industry and internal trade (DPIIT) under the commerce and industry ministry and Vadodara-based GatiShakti Vishwavidyalaya (GSV) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost the country’s infrastructure and logistics sectors.
• According to a report by Respirer Living Sciences, which provides real-time information on various aspects including air quality and climate trends, Delhi was the most polluted city in India for air pollution.
• The closing ceremony of the 19th Asian Games concluded at the Hangzhou Olympics Stadium in China.
• The date of National Post Day 2023 is October 10.
• World Mental Health Day 2023 falls on the 10th of October.